Wichita eagle., 1887-12-08

others?" raising his voice, The pays me
five roubles to go in there"
"But for that you must bring her
back, i" cried the Jew, clinging to the arm
of the soldier, nothing unless you do. -
''Is it for pleasure that go in there?"
growled the Cossack, angrily, "but quick,
idiot, and tell me where's that goat of a
mother to be found?''
In her bed in the chamber, in the left
hand corner"
Good" said the Russian, ''with the
help of God we'll have her OUT" and with
quick bound he leaped the steps of the
house, made the sign Of the cross and dis
appeared in the flames.
''Your horses are ready" said the pos
tilion, climbing to his seat.
Wait" l answered in low voice, my
friend, who had by this time joined me,
awaiting as anxiously as myself the de-
nouement of the drama.
At this moment the Cossack reappeared,
scorched and smoking, but carrying in his
arms the half dead ,Iewess. A shout of
| triumph saluted him.
Here she is" said he, approaching the
butcher and giving him his burden;"
! ''here she is; now give me the roubles."
At this moment with sort of roar the
/ flames burst from the house in every di
rection.
''Did you hear me?n said the Cossack,
''pay me the roubles you promised me"
"What, Immediately" blubbered the
/ Jew; ''wait at least until 1 have put her
in place of safety"
Mop Numbered the Cossack, mot a
minute will I wait. Pay me Immediately;
otherwise"- and he paused siSnifl-
cantly.
! With gesture Of fear the Jew covered
his face, but the Cossack had never
thought of striking him; he only fixed his
eyes upon him, sparkling with burning
rage. Blinded by avarice, the Jew lost
his prudence, and drawing from his
| pocket greasy portemonnaie, crying and
whining as he did so, he began to search
through its contents. At last he took
from it crumpled piece of paper and
presented it to the Cossack.
Just then the roof fell with crash, the
sparks floating even to where we stood.
1t was as light as day upon the place and
not a detail of the horrible scene was lost
upon us.
you've given me a rouble, you cursed
dog" screamed the Cossack suddenly,
zone rouble, and you agreed to pay five;
however, I'll take her back for nothing"
and before any one could stop him or
divine his intention, he caught the faint
ing woman in his arms again and darted
toward the house The steps were not
burned; he bounded over them and with
frantic curses hurled her into the heart
of the flames.
''Now Seek her yourself, dog, robber,
hogr' and he spat with fury in the direc-
ton of the bowling Jew:
leaped into the calash, my friend after
me; felt that could bear no more.
AS the carriage started shout from
the crowd causes me to turn my head. A
part of the front wall had fallen forward,
separating the soldier from the place; his
figure showed tall and black against the
background of lurid light. At the mo-
ment he prepared to leap falling beam
struck him on the head and he fell.
''Hurryrn 1 cried to the position,
punching him in the back to make him
go faster Hurry; get US away from
here as speedily as possible"
He thrashed the horses: they broke
into gallop; the crowd mechanically
parted and we were soon rolling through
the open country.
1t was a week, however, before ~ were
able to sleep.-Translated from the French
of Henry Greville for The San Francisco
Chronicle by E. C. Waggener.